Master Naga has prepared me clothing to wear when I clean the shrine. He says it is important to greet the gods with proper attire. The garments I usually wear are thin and plain, quite different than the billowy and layered ones that the dragons or Danum wear, but Master Naga told me to wear them and they're quite soft, so I don't mind.

The past few weeks have passed uneventfully, allowing me to acclimate to my new duties. In the morning, I sweep the floors of the shrine. Once that's done, I let the rooms air out while washing the floors. When the floors have dried, I shut the windows and move to the shrine. I carefully wash and polish the metal figurines of dragons and several-headed snakes as well as the golden throne. I'm not sure why a shrine has a throne, it seems like blasphemy waiting to happen, but I don't design the shrine, I just clean it.

I wash the ornately carved pillars and the floors before drying everything carefully. It took some time to clean the tarnish from the metal decorations, while the carved wood needed more focus on oiling and dusting, since it’s clearly been quite some time since they were cared for before my arrival. By the time I'm done, it's evening and time to feed the fish.

True to his word, Master Naga had a pond dug out for the koi he'd kept swimming around in his spatial bag. This pond was a fair bit larger than the one they were in before — a proper size for them now that they’re grown — and it was much more comfortable for them to swim around. With regular feedings of quality food, their scales seemed brighter too.

After that, I make myself a bowl of rice. Master Naga was rather furious when he discovered that I hadn't eaten for three days from Danum, who was bragging that they had gotten such a good human who didn't have to eat like the rest of them did. He had never told me to eat, and stealing from your master is a heavy offense.

He immediately ordered me to eat larger portions every day, much to my discomfort. Although I am quite certain that he enjoys teasing me by pushing me just a bit outside my comfort zone, I can tell this is not one of those times, and that if I don’t comply, I will be going against an order.

The grains are full and healthy, not pitted or discolored like I'm used to. It's much more filling too, and even my small bowlful is enough to make me feel a bit sick. Despite that, it was an order, so I can only obey.

After dinner, I wander the island a bit, mapping it out in my head.

Most of the island is forested, but to the east it gives way to mountains and to the west to cliffs, and somewhere to the north is an abandoned village. I haven’t seen the village yet, but I have seen much of the rest. Mia showed me the mountains, and Danum showed me the cliffs.

I've met quite a few nature spirits. At first, most were scared or hostile, since, apparently, it's quite uncommon for humans to come to the island, but once they knew I worked for Master Naga, they warmed up quickly, inviting me back, showing me hidden places and trying to get to know me.

It's a little uncomfortable, but I appreciate that they have no ill-will against me.

Sometimes Danum accompanies me, though the other spirits usually avoid us when she tags along, so I leave her to wreak havoc elsewhere most days.

The spirits were interested in my ability to sense them, the little ones playing games of hide-and-seek that I always win. I don't explain how I do it, not wanting to show my tail. Even without my answers, the spirits grow ever fonder, even coming to the shrine to invite me out with them.

Today we're going to see a waterfall. It's supposedly larger than the last one they took me to, which is hard to believe. The pair I spend the most time with are the spirits of a river and a white cedar tree. The pair are inseparable, a slim boy with dusty blond hair and violet eyes, and a dark-haired, blue-eyed young man.

I step over a large lizard, carefully avoiding the long green tail, not bothering to look to keep my footing as I scan my surroundings. The duo eyes me carefully, Cedar peeking around River's broad shoulders. "You're strange, even for a human, Shiori." Cedar giggles, twirling out of River's arms and hopping over to me.

I make a sound of acknowledgment, sending my pulse further to see if we're near the waterfall. I sense the pull of water about three hundred meters ahead, quite fast flowing. The waterfall. I pick up my pace, eager to see how big the waterfall is. River narrows his eyes as he notices my increase in speed but doesn't say anything. Neither of us says much, so it's up to Cedar to fill the silence.

"It's just ahead. You can hear it, yeah?"

I nod, nudging leaves and branches out of my way, careful not to break any of them as the sound of water grows louder.

I step through the treeline, eyes squinting as sunlight glares off the water. Once I adjust to the light, a small breath escapes me. The waterfall is at least five times my height, the mist rising from the base catching a rainbow in its sheen.

"Is this part of your river?" I ask quietly. River nods and Cedar hugs him excitedly.

"It's great, right? River's amazing, isn't he?" He's bouncing on his toes, nearly bumping River's chin in his happiness.

I nod distractedly, my sense catching an unexpected hollow in the gap behind the waterfall. "Is there..." I pause, unsure if I should ask, "something behind the waterfall?"

The two glance at each other guardedly and I realize I've said something wrong, pretending to squint at the falls. "Mm, nevermind, just a trick of the light. For a second, the water looked darker in the middle." My excuse is entirely plausible. Without the senses of an Earth elemental, which they all know I'm not, human senses are not enough to discern a cave behind both mist and water.

Cedar relaxes obviously, and River's jaw unclenches. "Well, you've seen it, let's go back!" Cedar calls, already tugging River back the way we came. I don't bother responding and instead, follow silently.

I don't mention the cave again, filing the information away in my brain under 'important but potentially incriminating information' instead. The rest of our walk is quiet, Cedar's comments coming less and less often until we reach their home. I nod my goodbyes and make my way back to the shrine.

I wonder if they'll come to see me again.

I don't get to wonder long before Master Naga comes home, accompanied by Mia, Marcus, and Danum. "Welcome home, Master Naga." I greet politely before nodding at the other three.

He looks a bit tired today, but I merely lower my eyes and wait for permission to leave.

"Shiori, let's go back to your room. Have you eaten yet?"

I nod.

"When?" He prompts after a pause.

"This afternoon, Master Naga."

"What did you eat?"

"Rice."

"How much?"

I blink at the floor. He doesn't usually ask me this many questions.

I have a feeling I'll be in trouble if I answer, but even if he doesn't flaunt his commands with wordy declarations, there is still an unquestionable command in his home.

"One bowl, Master Naga."

He makes a small clicking noise with his tongue. "That's not enough, Shiori, you're too thin."

I nod.

"Do you understand?" He asks, irritation lacing his tone, expression still a mystery as I keep my eyes lowered.

"Yes, Master Naga."

"Do you? It doesn't seem like you do, Shiori!" He's louder now, and properly angry, striding toward me in a manner that has me shrinking in on myself. 

Master Naga has not set punishments, I realize suddenly. I do not know what offense I have committed, and I do not know what the punishment will be for doing so.

"My apologies, Master Naga,” I murmur, hands squeezing together. “Please punish me as you see fit." I bow calmly just as Danum jumps in front of me.

My eyes lower. Move! I want to scream. It's not safe!

But instead of striking her, Master Naga stops, heaves a breath, and strides out of the shrine, calling for me to follow. I rise and hasten after him, steps smooth and silent.

~~~

The silence is nearly deafening as I stand across the room from the bed, where Master Naga is once again sprawled, long white hair splayed across the sheets, a few strands teasing his sharp jawline. His masculine build sharply contrasts the pale blue eyes framed with long, delicate eyelashes.

Those eyes are currently watching me with unfathomable intent as I stand silently against the wall. In the presence of my master, I can hardly sit down, and I am unbothered by prolonged silences, so Master Naga's blatant attempt to unsettle me isn't working.

Despite my lack of discomfort, Master Naga's grumpy expressions have only gotten worse with my lack of response. Finally, I yield.

"Have I done something to displease you, Master Naga?" I ask quietly, placatingly.

He harrumphs and turns his head away.

Is he a child? The Young Master at my last master's home often threw tantrums like this one. All Master Naga is missing is to stomp his foot and storm out of the room. It seems that despite his aloof and dignified appearance, he's quite immature when he's comfortable.

"Master Naga, I cannot improve my service unless you tell me what my mistakes are. To serve you better, I must ask you to enlighten your unworthy slave." I add a layer of ingratiation to my words. Though it's true that I need to know my mistakes to serve him better, I have an idea of what triggered his temper, but not why.

He began this fit when I told him I ate one bowl of rice. Though I'm not sure why that infuriated him so severely, it did. I can only imagine the business they went out for did not go well so I am the vent for his frustration. Secretly, I'm glad he's using me to release his anger since it means he's relying on me.

"You don't value yourself enough. It's frustrating." He says finally, pushing himself into a sitting position.

I blink. By not valuing myself...does he mean that if I insinuate that I am worthless he feels that I am belittling his authority and station?

I see.

That makes a lot of sense. I hadn't thought of it that way before. My previous masters all liked it when I belittled myself, as it was an opportunity to show their strengths, but Master Naga's position was higher than Master Xiao, who was above my second and third masters, so he probably doesn't need me to make myself small to feel big.

"Yes, Master Naga. I did not show proper respect for your level of authority. It was never my intent to demean you by implying that the weakness of your slave was a reflection of yourself. Please punish me as you see fit." I lower my head as I wait for his reaction. Was I right? Was he mad because he felt ridiculed?

Instead of a verbal response, I hear a long sigh.

"I wasn't upset because I felt demeaned, Shiori." He stands and walks toward me slowly, as though he was approaching a wild animal. "I was upset because if you don't eat enough you'll get sick, and it feels like that would upset me more than it would you." He lifts my chin gently, trying to get me to meet his eyes. "Would you be willing to eat more for me?" His voice is coaxing, soft and sweet as it cocoons me, lowering my inhibitions and dulling my eyes.

"Finishing a whole bowl of rice makes me feel ill. Even less if there's meat. I only do it because Master Naga ordered me to." I reply quietly. "I will eat more if it is an order, but not otherwise."

His crystalline eyes widen in surprise and alarm. "It only takes one bowl to make you sick?"

I nod, averting my eyes to regain my senses. "I am not accustomed to eating such high-quality rice, nor so many times a day. I'm sorry, Master Naga."

The hand holding my chin slides down to my waist, undoing the ties in my clothing and pulling open my top.

I stand still, unsure of what to do. Normally, this would be a cue to pleasure my master, but last time this happened, Master Naga was displeased with my actions and firmly warned me not to make the first move until I want to, whatever that means.

His touches are strictly clinical, pressing lightly against the flat of my stomach and sliding his fingers up my ribs and down the knobs of my spine as though looking for something.

"As I thought," he murmurs to himself after a stretch of pokes and prods, "Malnutrition isn't an ailment, so I'm of no use."

Healing? As I thought, Master Naga is not human. Healing is a power belonging to only deities, the semi-divine, and monsters. That, combined with his familiarity with the spirits on the island, only bolsters my belief that my master is a deity. I am quite lucky to be in his service.

"Shiori." Master Naga's voice breaks me from my thoughts, tying my shirt closed again. “Every second week, I’d like you to increase your food intake. Instead of a bowl of rice, We’ll start you on a bowl of rice porridge and work you up to adding some meat and vegetables before properly reinstating solid foods. I’m sorry I didn’t thoroughly inspect your condition before now. That was my failing. However, in the future, if I give you an order that you struggle to fulfill, I want you to tell me so I can see how we can make it work for you while also meeting my needs.”

I swallow hard before nodding, even as my skin crawls at my master's apology. Asking for modification is an order. It is not disobedience.

"Now then, I'd like you to come with me on my investigation next time. I received an alarming report of a village poisoning Sacred Beasts in the North. As my head priest, you have every right to speak for me during my absences."

My eyes widen as they continue their fixed stare at the end of the bed. Head priest? Master, why don't you ever tell me the important things?

Ignoring the new title, I nod my understanding. “When will we leave, Master?” I ask, trying to schedule my shrine cleaning in my head.

“Now.”

I nod again, but I'm all but tearing my hair out in my head. Master. How am I supposed to clean the shrine tomorrow if we’re leaving now?

He hooks an arm around my waist easily and the vacuum opens back up under my feet, just like when I came to the island.

It’s an entirely unpleasant sensation —  like the floor has dropped out from under me and I'm being crushed against a rock all at the same time. As soon as my feet are on solid ground again, I choke down vomit at the unexpected spatial rift.

“Master Naga.”  My voice contains the faintest trace of irritation that I couldn’t suppress. “Please warn me before we teleport. It would be a disgrace to be sick on your shoes.”

His icy face can’t hide the teasing glint in his eyes. “Ah, but Shiori, you’ll get used to it faster this way.”

The loathsome glare I want to shoot him is carefully hidden as I stare at the ground.

He may be a deity, but he’s clearly a sadist.